Prime Heritage Magazine

By Nwafor Oji Awala  At his palace in Aleto on Saturday, August 23, His Royal Majesty, Emere Philip Osaro Obele, DSSRS, the Oneh-eh Eleme XI, welcomed the campaign delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eleme. But while the visit was political, the message from the revered monarch was anything but partisan. It was a call for Eleme to rise above political differences and confront its challenges together as one people. The King’s words were directed at Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, who is seeking a second term as Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area in the August 30 elections. Yet, they resonated far beyond the campaign trail. They spoke to the collective conscience of Eleme’s political class and to the people themselves. “The door that God has opened cannot be closed by any man,” King Obele declared. “We, the chiefs of Eleme, prayed for Obarilomate Ollor during his first tenure. Today, we surround him again with our staff of office to bless and anoint him.” But the ...

By Nwafor Oji Awala  For years, Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State was firmly associated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The area, home to key oil and gas industries, often witnessed tense contests during elections, sometimes accompanied by political violence. But the atmosphere in 2025 tells a different story: Eleme has become a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and political activity in the state has taken on a more peaceful character. At the official flag-off of the APC campaign in Nchia this week, the party formally presented flags to its councillorship candidates and rallied support for its chairmanship candidate, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, who is seeking re-election in the August 30 local government elections. The event drew party leaders, community stakeholders, and traditional rulers, underscoring Eleme’s shifting political loyalties. A New Climate of Peace One of the most notable changes in Rivers politics is the absence of the vi...

Hon. Obarilomate Ollor  By John Ollor Obe. Campaign Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Eleme Local Government Area, Hon. Frederick Oyor, has taken the front seat in the party’s grassroots mobilization drive as he led ward sensitization rallies ahead of the August 30 council polls in Rivers State. Hon Frederick Oyor Oyor, a former Public Relations Officer of APC in Rivers State, personally monitored the rallies across Eleme, accompanied by his Deputy, Hon. Chu Obo Abbey, and Campaign Secretary, Ate Chinwi. The team’s mission was to assess voter engagement, ensure smooth coordination, and reinforce support for the party’s candidates. As part of the exercise, Oyor led the campaign delegation on a courtesy visit to the palace of His Majesty, Emere (Dr.) Philip Osaro Obele JP, Oneh-eh Eleme XI. Addressing party faithful during the rallies, Oyor commended President Bola Tinubu for his timely intervention in halting the political crisis in Rivers State, stressi...

HRM Philip Obele - L, Nwa'for Oji Awala, R By Nwafor Oji Awala. What makes us the Eleme people unique is not merely our language or names, but our way of life: our customs, our beliefs, and our sacred practices. At the heart of this heritage stand our chiefs and priests, sworn custodians of our tradition, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the very soul of our land. When chiefs fail to uphold the chieftaincy institutions in line with our traditional norms and ancient values, they betray the essence of our foundation and the spiritual backbone of Eleme. There ought to be no camps and defections in our chieftaincy institutions, for the roles of chiefs are spiritual and underpin the very foundation on which the land thrives. Traditional chiefs are not political actors who waver from coast to coast, looking for roots to hold on to in order to remain afloat. The chieftaincy stool is sacred, not a platform for personal ambition or survival. The critical question remains:...

By John Ollor Obe  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a massive turnout in the opening hours of its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), with 69,376 Nigerians completing their online pre-registration within just seven hours of launch. According to a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the online portal went live at 8:30 a.m. on Monday and by 3:30 p.m., tens of thousands had pre-registered. A breakdown of the figures shows that 33,803 (48.7%) of registrants were male, while 35,573 (51.3%) were female. Young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for the majority, with 48,033 registrants, representing 69.2 percent of the total. The Commission noted that the online registration platform — available round-the-clock at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org — would run alongside the physical registration exercise set to commence on Monday, August 25, 2025. Th...

By Nwa'for Oji Awala  By those who are shouting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara “surrendered” to Nyesom Wike’s “superior firepower,” one must ask: where were you when this political journey began? Where was all this so-called “political resolve” you now demand of Fubara when Wike, standing alone against seasoned political gladiators in Rivers PDP, single-handedly elevated Fubara from the quiet corridors of the state’s civil service to the number one seat in Rivers State? The truth is simple: Fubara did not climb to power on the back of a mass movement, nor on decades of personal political war stories. His rise was the result of a decisive political calculation by Wike—one that placed him above men who had spent years battling in the trenches of Rivers politics. Without Wike’s political machinery, Fubara’s name would never have made the ballot, let alone the governor’s lodge. So, for those speaking of “standing ground,” it is worth remembering that there would have been no ground ...

By  John Ollor Obe  The Federal Government has announced the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in an altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025. The decision was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), in a statement addressing recent incidents of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports. Keyamo said the move followed consultations with stakeholders in the aviation sector and appeals from well-meaning individuals. He noted that while both offending passengers and airline staff had committed clear wrongs, valuable lessons had been learned on all sides, and the incidents had heightened public awareness about proper conduct in the aviation space. Comfort Emmanson’s Case According to the minister, Ms. Emmanson showed “great remorse” during her statement to police in the presence of her lawyer. As a result, Ibom Air has agreed to withdraw i...

By Nwafor Oji Awala President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the federal agency tasked with implementing the clean-up of oil-impacted Ogoniland and other contaminated parts of the Niger Delta. According to a statement issued Monday by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Minister of Environment will serve as Chairman of the newly reconstituted Council — a position that gives the ministry direct political oversight of HYPREP’s activities. The appointments reflect a mixture of continuity and change. Loanyie Barituka Victor will represent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) focused on environmental advocacy, while Bright Onyebuchi Jacob and Henry Obiabure will represent Niger Delta communities. The Ogoni community — at the epicentre of the HYPREP mandate — has two new faces on the Governing Council: Professor Barine...

By Nwafor Oji Awala  For a unique ethnic people like ours, ethnic identity is not just a matter of pride, it is the anchor that holds us steady in the storms of change. Without it, we risk drifting into the anonymity of history, swallowed by larger tides. Among us, there are those who gnaw at the roots of our heritage like wood ants, quietly but persistently hollowing out the very trunk of our ethnic tree. They build their hidden tunnels through our values, weakening what should stand strong. It is a form of self-poisoning, a corrosion from within. And though such people exist in every land, it cuts deeper when they are our own blood. Then there is another group, those who parade themselves as the elite, the so-called enlightened. They are the honey buzzards of our society, swooping in to snatch the cream and the choicest spoils, manipulating the system for their personal gain. They perch comfortably, as long as the land still breathes life. But I am not troubled by them, for the d...

By Nwafor Oji Awala In a moment charged with history and hope, the Federal Government has unveiled four water projects in Ogoniland—an act that, for many in the community, signals more than just infrastructure. It represents a long-overdue acknowledgment of the struggles of a people poisoned by pollution and forgotten by development. The commissioning ceremony, which held in Bodo, was attended by officials of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), community leaders, and other stakeholders. It was not just a celebration—it was a reckoning. For decades, the Ogoni people have borne the devastating consequences of oil exploration. Contaminated rivers, polluted air, and poisoned soil have defined daily life in a region that once thrived on its natural wealth. The 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report starkly captured this reality, revealing widespread ecological degradation, elevated cancer risks, and unsafe water supplies. It recommended, as a matter ...

By Nwafor Oji Awala  The vibrant heart of the Ijaw people beat strong in Lagos as the 2025 Ijaw Nation Day Festival entered its second day, transforming the serene Bics Garden and Boat Club in Lekki Phase 1 into a colourful celebration of unity, tradition, and cultural pride. Organized by the Ijaw Initiative Movement, the festival served as more than just a cultural display — it was a powerful reminder of shared identity, resilience, and the enduring bond among Ijaws living within and beyond Lagos. The gathering brought together people of Ijaw descent, friends of the culture, and curious Lagosians from diverse ethnic backgrounds, all united in admiration of Ijaw heritage. The event was a feast for the senses: from traditional wrestling bouts that drew cheers from the crowd, to the mesmerizing Omungu Aru war canoe regatta, electrifying masquerade displays, soul-stirring music, and delicacies that told stories of a people deeply rooted in their ancestral waters. As dancers adorne...

  By Barisua Martins  Amid ongoing debates surrounding land revocations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Nyesom Wike dropped what many see as a significant political signal—reaffirming his reconciliation with suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and claiming to now be “on good terms” with the embattled leader. Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, August 4, Wike stated that the peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu “means we are now in good terms with the governor.” He added that the President is not interested in pursuing a state of emergency in Rivers, suggesting that the truce between him and Fubara has restored enough political order to avert further federal intervention. This revelation has sparked a fresh wave of commentary among political observers and critics alike, many of whom doubt the sincerity or durability of the proclaimed reconciliation. Several commentators argue that Wike’s body language and consistent ve...

— By Nwafor Oji Awala The political atmosphere in Rivers State intensified over the weekend as the 23 chairmanship candidates for the forthcoming August 30, 2025 local government elections officially emerged from their respective party primaries held across the state. The primaries, conducted last Saturday, were largely peaceful and devoid of the violent confrontations that have marred similar exercises in the past. However, despite the calm, the process has drawn mixed reactions from political observers, civil society groups, and grassroots stakeholders, many of whom have raised concerns over what they described as “pre-arranged outcomes.” According to the Independent Electoral Commission of Rivers State (IECRS), the following candidates have been confirmed as their party’s flag bearers: All Progressives Congress (APC): Omuma — Obasi Uchechukwu Nnabuike Abua/Odual — Owolabi Ofori Andoni — Prince Promise Otuo Lucky Ogu-Bolo — Vincent Nemieboka Okrika — Akuro Tobin Goka...

By Nwafor Oji Awala  As Rivers State edges toward the August 30th local government elections, the political atmosphere is thick with anticipation, and one name dominates the conversation: Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of the state. Whether discussed in hushed tones over bottles in neighborhood bars or debated in loud arguments within political caucuses, Wike’s name is omnipresent. Love him or loathe him, one thing remains clear, Wike is not just a political talker; he is a proven political executor. A tactician by every standard, his mastery of realpolitik continues to shape the contours of Rivers politics. The just-concluded party primaries across the state have sparked mixed reactions. Critics across the political divide, particularly those opposed to Wike, describe the exercises as mere formalities, a “smokescreen” masking pre-arranged outcomes. Perhaps they are not entirely wrong. But even a flawed process can yield valua...